March 7, 2007

EIFFEL TOWER FACTS

The tower is open 9:30 AM to Midnight daily during the summer, 10Am - 11PM Winter. Admission: Elevator to first floor, 17 fr.; ages 4-11, 8 fr. to second floor; 34 fr., 4-11, 16 fr. to third floor 51 fr, ages 4-11, 23 fr. under 4 free to all levels. I seem to recall that the fare was 60 fr. to the top a few months ago, so there may have been an adjustment over the past three years. I have not looked into group fares, but I suspect that the discount would not be substantial, if any. The Eiffel Tower is about the only tourist site in Paris that does not participate in the Museum Card, which allows admission to about 90 sites for a fixed discount price. Levels 1 and 2 include the Jules Verne restaurant as well as other shops. The 3rd level includes the best view, of course, and a display of Paris and Eiffel memorabilia.The French Franc has been worth about $.15 for the last few years.TOWER BASICSYears Built: 1887-1889 for 1889 Universal Exhibition and Centennialof the French RevolutionEngineers : Maurice Koechlin and Emile NouguierArchitect : Stephen SauvestreContractor : Gustave EiffelOccasion for Construction: 1889 Universal ExhibitionConstruction Period: 23 January 1887 to March 1889 (2years,2months,5days)Tower inaugurated: March 31, 1889Number of Steel Workers: 300Number of Workers Killed during Construction: 1Rivets: 2,500,000Steel pieces: 18,038Height: 300.51 meters (986 feet) (+/- 15 cm depending on temperature)1st level - 57 meters2nd level - 115 meters3rd level - 276 metersHeight including television antenna: 320.755 meters (1052 feet)Weight: 7,000 tons (1,000 tons removed during 1990's renovation)Base: 412 feet square, although also noted as about 2.5 acresFoundation Pressure: 58.26 to 64 psi (9000 psf)Paint: 50 tons every 7 yearsPaint Color: Dark BrownSteps to Top: 1789 (Birnbaum), 1671 (Joseph Harriss), 1652 (others),1665 (Official Eiffel Tower Website)Steps walkable by visitors (Ground to 2nd floor): 704Year lighting added contributing to Paris' reputation as "City of Lights": 1986Lighting : 352 projectors of 1000 wattsDay German flag was hoisted on the Eiffel Tower as German army enteredand occupied Paris: June 14, 1940Number of Visitors, 1987: 4,000,000Number of visitors, 1996 : 5,530,279Numbers of visitors from the beginning to 1996: 167,664,439First Radio Transmission: 1918First TV transmission: 1957Maximum sway in wind: 12 cmTallest Structure in the World: 1889-1930 (until Chrysler Building)2nd Tallest Structure in the World: 1930-1932 (Until Empire State Bldg)Parachute Descent: 1984 by two EnglishmenBicycle Descent: 1923 JournalistMountaneering Ascent: 1954Visibility on a clear day: 67 kilometers (42 miles)